An integrated theoretical, experimental, and numerical study of small-amplitude water waves

TL;DR

This paper presents a cost-effective experimental setup for studying small-amplitude water waves, validated through experiments, theory, and simulations, and explores its educational benefits and challenges.

Contribution

It introduces an inexpensive, accessible experimental platform for water wave analysis and compares its results with theoretical and numerical models, highlighting its educational value.

Findings

Excellent agreement between experiments, theory, and simulations.

Students reported improved understanding of Fluid Mechanics.

Identified need for better CFD support for students.

Abstract

We introduce an inexpensive experimental setup for analyzing free-surface water waves: a $1\,\mathrm{m}$-long tabletop flume made from perspex, driven by a variable-frequency piston wavemaker built from Lego. Using mobile-phone video capture, we collect experimental data and compare it with predictions from linear gravity-capillary wave theory and with multiphase simulations performed in OpenFOAM. We find excellent quantitative agreement across all three approaches. Our setup may be valuable for students with a background in Mathematical Modelling who lack hands-on laboratory experience. To explore this, we report on a survey of students who completed an integrated theoretical, experimental, and computational project. While students found the experience enhanced their learning of Fluid Mechanics, they also noted the need for better support in setting up and running CFD simulations.